Trolleybuses

When the trundling of the tramcar makes way for the almost inaudible swoosh of the trolleybus, pedestrians had to be extra vigilant when crossing a busy road.

Trolleybuses

Imagine a noisy busy city, heavy traffic pounding the worn out potholed roads, people darting in and out between parked cars to get across the road. Then WHOOSH! - it seems that from out of nowhere, this silent lump of metal is suddenly upon you! As in most cases the trolleybus driver is alert and has managed to toot his squeaky horn a split second before your blood would have messed up the trolleybus’s shiny new paintwork. In Glasgow we called them The Silent Killers .


Crossley Empire TDD 42/2 Trolleybus

Crossley Empire trolleybus TDD 42/2Crossley Empire TDD 42/2 trolleybus. Photo: Frank Harrigan

Crossley Empire trolleybus TDD 42/2Crossley Empire TDD 42/2 trolleybus. Photo: Frank Harrigan

Crossley Empire trolleybus TDD 42/2 factsheetCrossley Empire TDD 42/2 trolleybus factsheet

  • Chassis & model: Built in 1950 by Crossley Motors; one of 45 TDD 42 Empire trolleybuses produced for UK operators.
  • Registration & fleet number: Registered LTC 774, fleet number 80; chassis number 94442, body code H30/26R with Metropolitan‑Vickers MV209NO motor.
  • Operator & service: Delivered in July 1950 to Ashton‑under‑Lyne Corporation (Ashton ACT). Served primarily on trolleybus routes including the joint services to Manchester (routes 216, 217, 218, 219) until withdrawal in either late 1963 or early 1964 (final Ashton service run on 10 October 1964, last joint services continuing until end of 1966).
  • Dimensions & layout: 3‑axle double‑deck design (Empire TDD 42/2) seating 56 in rear‑entrance layout, built with Crossley bodywork in Ash‑ton’s livery.
  • Preservation: LTC 774 was the last Ashton Crossley trolleybus in revenue service. Set aside for preservation rather than scrapping, though early storage at Carlton Colville Transport Museum caused structural damage. Acquired by Manchester Museum of Transport circa 1980.
  • Restoration: Major restoration begun in the early 1980s. Vehicle restored into its original pre‑1954 livery of dark blue, red and white, matching how it appeared in 1950s service with Ashton Corporation.
  • Current status: Now a static exhibit at Greater Manchester Transport Museum. It is exhibited alongside Manchester Corporation’s Crossley Dominion TDD 64 number 1250 (fleet no. 1250, JVU 755), though neither are operational as no live system exists.
  • Significance: One of only two preserved trolleybuses from the Manchester/Ashton system (Ashton 80 at Manchester museum, and Manchester 1250 at Sandtoft).

Sources


Crossley Dominion TDD 64/1 Trolleybus

Crossley Dominion trolleybus TDD 64/1Crossley Dominion TDD 64/1 trolleybus. Photo: Frank Harrigan

Crossley Dominion trolleybus TDD 64/1Crossley Dominion trolleybus factsheet

  • Chassis & model: Crossley Dominion TDD 64/1 trolleybus, produced in 1951 by Crossley Motors as part of the Dominion TDD 64 series built between 1948 and 1951. Chassis number 94512 with Crossley‑built body code H36/30R.
  • Delivery & operator: Delivered in January 1951 to Manchester Corporation Transport, registered as JVU 755, assigned fleet number 1250.
  • Service career: Part of a batch of Dominion trolleybuses (fleet nos 1240–1255) introduced between 1951 for Manchester’s trolleybus system, which peaked at 189 vehicles across 9 routes running from 1 March 1938 to 31 December 1966.
  • Withdrawal from service: 1963, along with the rest of the Dominion and Empire Crossley trolleybus fleet (Manchester Dominion batch 1240–1255 withdrawn in 1963).
  • Preservation: Survived into preservation, eventually acquired by the Greater Manchester Transport Museum (Manchester Museum of Transport) in Cheetham Hill
  • Current status: Now a static exhibit; not operational, since no working trolleybus infrastructure remains in Manchester.

Sources


Glasgow Corporation Tram TBS 13

Bridgeton Bus Garage, GlasgowGlasgow Corporation Burlingham bodied B.U.T. RETB1 trolleybus Photo: Frank Harrigan

Bridgeton Bus Garage, GlasgowNearly everyone with a camera is likely to have taken this shot on their visit to the garage.

Bridgeton Bus Garage, GlasgowGlasgow Corporation Burlingham bodied B.U.T. RETB1 trolleybus Photo: Frank Harrigan

Bridgeton Bus Garage, GlasgowGlasgow Corporation Burlingham bodied B.U.T. RETB1 trolleybus Photo: Frank Harrigan

Bridgeton Bus Garage, GlasgowGlasgow Corporation Burlingham bodied B.U.T. RETB1 trolleybus Photo: Frank Harrigan

  • Fleet number: TBS 13 (transport works number)
  • Registration mark: FYS 988
  • Type: Built in 1958 by British United Traction (B.U.T. RETB1 chassis) with a Burlingham B50F single‑deck body.
  • Delivery date: Entered service in November 1958, assigned to route 108 (Mount Florida to Paisley Road Toll) – the only single-deck trolleybus in the system.
  • Service life: Operated until trolleybus system closure; withdrawn in March 1967 when services were replaced by motorbuses (route 108 replaced by bus route 68).
  • Preservation: One of only three Glasgow trolleybuses saved – with TB78 (double‑deck, Sandtoft) and TBS 21 (later scrapped).
  • Significance: Now the only surviving Scottish single‑deck trolleybus, representing Glasgow’s post-war trolleybus era.

Sources

Further Information